`False' claim? Couple says Deptford board misled over hotels land issue
DEPTFORD TWP. — Township planners never got to the bottom of what a hotel developer claimed was an effort to acquire more land for their Route 41 project and that raises a legal question about their subsequent approval, a lawsuit from a local family alleges.
The Planning Board in February granted SSN Hotels LLC approval to build a pair of four-story hotels at the end of Harmony Lane, near the Deptford Mall. The site is about 5.17 acres, undersized by building standards.
The board approved variances to overcome the site’s code deficiencies.
Harmony Road residents Richard and Janet Graham filed in state court April 18 to have the board's approval revoked.
More: What about us? Residents fume over Deptford hotels decision
More: Monroe may be 1st with special needs playground
“During the hearing, professional SSN representatives falsely represented to the board that SSN had attempted to purchase the Grahams’ property but were rejected by the Grahams,” the lawsuit claims.
It contends the developer actually rejected any attempts to negotiate the purchase of the Grahams' property.
“To compound the problem … SSN’s attorney improperly made factual representations to the board regarding SSN’s unsuccessful attempts to purchase an easement across the Grahams’ property,” the lawsuit states.
Attorney Gary Zangerle, who represents the Grahams, also alleges the board members improperly refused to consider testimony about the willingness of the couple to sell.
The Grahams were at the February board hearing but did not testify. Their attorney at the meeting, Sanford Schmidt, did address the board to argue against approval of the project.
Testimony got around to what SSN Hotels had done to secure more land, including contacts with the Grahams. A SSN Hotels representative testified the couple was contacted but an agreement was not reacded.
Schmidt, in his turn, gave a different account to board members. The attorney suggested there was little real interest in acquiring the Graham property.
After the meeting, Richard Graham said he had received a letter about possibly selling to the developer. Graham said he responded that he had some interest but never heard back from the developer.
Deptford officials and an attorney for the developer did not respond to requests for comment about the lawsuit.
Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.
Have a tip? Support journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Hotel company won over Deptford, but did board get misled?
